TEAS 7 science practice

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Pharyngeal pouches in vertebrates are an example of homologous structures because they share a common evolutionary origin. Despite developing into different structures in various vertebrate groups, such as the jaw and inner ear in humans, these structures originated from the same ancestral feature. This concept of homology highlights the evolutionary relationship between different species and how structures can be modified over time to serve different functions while retaining a common origin. Choice A is incorrect because analogous structures have similar functions but different evolutionary origins, which does not apply to pharyngeal pouches. Choice C is incorrect as vestigial structures are remnants of features that were functional in ancestors but have reduced or lost their original function, which is not the case for pharyngeal pouches. Choice D is incorrect because atavisms refer to the reappearance of traits absent in recent generations, which is not the characteristic of pharyngeal pouches.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The QRS complex on an ECG represents ventricular depolarization. This electrical activity is generated by the ventricular muscle cells. While the SA node generates the P wave, the AV node delays the impulse, and the Bundle of His and Purkinje fibers assist in rapidly conducting the impulse through the ventricles, it is the ventricular muscle cells that specifically create the QRS complex. Therefore, choice D, Ventricular muscle cells, is the correct answer. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they are primarily involved in initiating and coordinating the electrical impulses in the heart but do not directly generate the QRS complex on an ECG.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Meiosis is the type of cell division responsible for sexual reproduction. During meiosis, a single cell undergoes two rounds of division to produce four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This reduction in chromosome number is essential for sexual reproduction as it ensures that when two gametes (sperm and egg) combine during fertilization, the resulting zygote will have the correct number of chromosomes. Mitosis, on the other hand, is a type of cell division that produces two daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell and is involved in growth, repair, and asexual reproduction. Amitosis is a rare form of cell division that does not involve the typical processes of mitosis or meiosis. Cytokinesis is the process of dividing the cytoplasm of a cell after mitosis or meiosis.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter responsible for stimulating muscle contraction at the neuromuscular junction. When an action potential reaches the end of a motor neuron, acetylcholine is released into the synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on the muscle cell membrane, leading to muscle contraction. Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters that have different functions in the nervous system and are not directly involved in stimulating muscle contraction. Dopamine is involved in reward and pleasure pathways, serotonin regulates mood and behavior, and norepinephrine is involved in the 'fight or flight' response.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The Gram stain is a differential staining technique that categorizes bacteria into two groups based on their cell wall composition: Gram-positive and Gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell walls, which retains the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining procedure. Consequently, Gram-positive bacteria appear purple under the microscope after staining. On the other hand, Gram-negative bacteria possess a thinner peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane that can be penetrated by the counterstain safranin, leading them to appear pink or red. Blue is not typically used to describe the color of bacteria in a Gram stain, making it an incorrect choice.